The two of them walked along, chatting and laughing, the atmosphere so harmonious that Xiaoxiao suddenly felt that even a twisted ankle was worth it.
But this harmony was shattered by Xiaobai, who was usually obedient. He started barking loudly and furiously—what was going on?
"Husband, there won’t be anything wrong, right?" Xiaoxiao asked fearfully. It was already dark and fiery under the night sky; there were hardly any people on the road, and she hoped nothing else would happen.
"Don’t be afraid, I’m here."
"Mmm." Xiaoxiao felt as if Yang Ming’s words had some sort of magical power. Every time he said them, she inexplicably felt at ease.
Yang Ming, carrying his wife on his back, moved forward attentively, fully alert and observing their surroundings, determined to protect his wife no matter what happened.
After a while, they heard some noise ahead. It sounded like an ox cart passing by. "Wife, don’t be scared, it’s just an ox cart ahead."
Even though he said that, they were still extremely vigilant. Suddenly, they heard a shout from up ahead, "Third brother, third sister-in-law, is that you?"
Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao recognized the voice as Yang Dong’s. Her anxious heart finally settled. It was just Xiaobai reacting to the ox cart ahead that had caused the commotion.
"It’s us." Xiaoxiao called out toward the front, then turned around and said to her good-for-nothing husband, "Husband, fourth brother has come to pick us up."
In his mind, Yang Ming thought about the timing of his brother’s arrival. He wasn’t too early or too late, but had to come right when he was carrying his wife and they were having such a good moment, interfering with their affairs.
As the ox cart approached, they heard Yang Dong saying, "I figured it must be you, I heard Xiaobai barking from far away. Get on quickly, seeing that you hadn’t returned, dad sent me to pick you up."
Yang Ming lifted his wife onto the ox cart and complained to his younger brother, "Why didn’t you bring a cushion for your third sister-in-law? This seat is so hard."
"..." He had rushed out so hastily, where would he have thought of that? It was never a concern before, and his third brother had never asked for a cushion. He flicked the whip, "Hold on tight, let’s go!"
Hearing her good-for-nothing husband’s words, Xiaoxiao felt like he was somewhat different today. He actually complained to his brother for not bringing a cushion for her, which made her feel like her good-for-nothing husband was starting to care for her in front of others.
"Wife, here, take this. It’s the spare clothes I brought back; you can sit on them for now."
"Mmm." Xiaoxiao felt a warm feeling in her heart. She didn’t mind not having a cushion, as long as he was by her side.
"Third brother, third sister-in-law, why are you moving so slowly? We thought something had happened!"
Yang Ming: Wife was harassed, but she wouldn’t say a word.
Xiaoxiao: She was hit on, but she also wouldn’t say a word.
The couple turned their heads away, both surprisingly silent, deciding not to respond to Yang Dong.
After a while, Yang Ming spoke up, "Fourth brother."
"Third brother, what is it?"
"The other day, when your third sister-in-law came back so late, why didn’t you come to pick her up?" Yang Ming suddenly remembered the last time he and his wife came back together. If he hadn’t taken his wife home, she would have been alone so late at night, which would have been unsafe.
"..." Oh, heaven, he wasn’t that considerate. If it hadn’t been for dad’s instructions, he wouldn’t have come to pick them up. Besides, third sister-in-law herself had said there was no need to worry if she came back late. "I didn’t notice that third sister-in-law hadn’t come back."
"Pay attention next time. If your third sister-in-law goes out and it gets dark without her coming back, you should go out and pick her up."
Listening to her good-for-nothing husband’s instructions, Xiaoxiao’s heart warmed even more. She smiled slightly, feeling that he was keeping her in his thoughts. She mustn’t be far from being truly liked by him.